BB commissioners consider BOA changes

The Bradenton Beach City Commission is considering an ordinance intended to reduce costs and refine the process for reviewing building department appeals and variance applications.

The commission is scheduled to consider a final reading of an ordinance regarding changes for the board of adjustment during a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5 at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.

The ordinance would amend the land-development code section on administrative enforcement to allow a special master to hear administrative appeals and variance requests.

All such requests have gone to the board of adjustment for review and a recommendation to the city commission. The group of appointed volunteer citizens in recent months has had difficulty with attendance at meetings.

The ordinance would not eliminate the BOA, but rather allow for either the board or a special master to hear cases, said commissioners.

The city has used the special master process for code enforcement hearings, including two in 2008 on citations for violating the city’s ordinance governing lighting during turtle nesting season.

Perhaps the most significant change with the proposed ordinance is that the special master’s decision would “result in a final action of the city.” The BOA’s decision would continue to be a recommendation to the city commission, which would have the final say.

The ordinance would designate the building official or other city designee as the person responsible for setting the matter before a special master or the BOA.

A final reading on temporary regulations for the city’s mooring field also is on the Feb. 5 agenda.

Get breaking news

Sign up to receive breaking news alerts
via e-mail. We'll send you a notice when the news and classifieds
appear online every week, before the print edition hits the streets.